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Sean Illing

Sean Illing

Host of The Gray Area

    Latest articles by Sean Illing

    Politics
    How the media should respond to Trump’s lies: State of the Union editionHow the media should respond to Trump’s lies: State of the Union edition
    Politics

    A linguist explains how Trump uses lies to divert attention from the “big truths.”

    By Sean Illing
    Has Facebook been good for the world?
    Technology

    15 influencers weigh in on the company’s 15th birthday.

    By Sean Illing, Kurt Wagner and 1 more
    Understanding the Trump era
    Richard Rorty’s prescient warnings for the American leftRichard Rorty’s prescient warnings for the American left
    Understanding the Trump era

    This liberal philosopher predicted Trump’s rise in 1998 — and he has another warning for the left.

    By Sean Illing
    Culture
    A 1951 book about totalitarianism is flying off the shelves. Here’s why.A 1951 book about totalitarianism is flying off the shelves. Here’s why.
    Culture

    What Hannah Arendt’s philosophy can teach us about Trump, Brexit, and social isolation.

    By Sean Illing
    Technology
    If you want to understand the age of Trump, read the Frankfurt SchoolIf you want to understand the age of Trump, read the Frankfurt School
    Technology

    Why now is a great time to dust off this forgotten school of criticism.

    By Sean Illing
    Culture
    How Republicans turned voter suppression into a high artHow Republicans turned voter suppression into a high art
    Culture

    A conversation with Emory historian Carol Anderson.

    By Sean Illing
    How the Enlightenment sold us a twisted view of human nature
    Culture

    Why the historian David Wootton thinks we should question our assumptions about human psychology.

    By Sean Illing
    Politics
    How conservative media became a “safe space”How conservative media became a “safe space”
    Politics

    Former talk radio host Charlie Sykes on the crisis of conservative media.

    By Sean Illing
    Politics
    Does the BuzzFeed report show that Trump obstructed justice? I asked 9 legal experts.Does the BuzzFeed report show that Trump obstructed justice? I asked 9 legal experts.
    Politics

    If the report is true, they said, then yes.

    By Sean Illing
    Politics
    The case against empathyThe case against empathy
    Politics

    Why this Yale psychologist thinks you should be compassionate, not empathetic.

    By Sean Illing